Charity

Chattastrophe!

Homelessness. It's such a tragic - and often preventable - issue. So many lives wasted.

I often buy food for homeless individuals. I'd love to help on a larger scale.

I've often thought that, if I won the Euromillions, I'd buy a big hotel in Dublin where I'd take in homeless people, get them fed and washed and clothed, provide any necessary medical and psychological help, do some in-house training programmes, and get them out in the workplace. Even on free placements, if necessary, to build up experience. And then, once they'd build up some confidence, send them out to live in the community, with ongoing support.

Sounds idealistic, and obviously it wouldn't work out in the end for many, particularly addicts. But, I like to think that - for some - it would provide that second chance in life.

In real terms, a charity I support is (as mentioned already) the LauraLynn charity. It's so sad that such a charity even has need to exist, and they badly need (and deserve) all the help that they can get.

I despise charities that employ 'chuggers', and avoid donating to these. My money goes to better use elsewhere.

DEFTLEFTHAND

People are often uneasy about collections because they worry about rackets. Think about it, it's easy money, anybody can fabricate a Trocaire poster and stick it on the end of a table or bucket. It's being happening for years..

mikemac1

Tlachtga wrote: »

Homelessness. It's such a tragic - and often preventable - issue. So many lives wasted.

I often buy food for homeless individuals. I'd love to help on a larger scale.

I've often thought that, if I won the Euromillions, I'd buy a big hotel in Dublin where I'd take in homeless people, get them fed and washed and clothed, provide any necessary medical and psychological help, do some in-house training programmes, and get them out in the workplace. Even on free placements, if necessary, to build up experience. And then, once they'd build up some confidence, send them out to live in the community, with ongoing support.

Sounds idealistic, and obviously it wouldn't work out in the end for many, particularly addicts. But, I like to think that - for some - it would provide that second chance in life.

That already exists, the Iveagh Hostel on Bride St.

Every man (I'm not sure if there are women) has his own room and access to facilities like the Internet and help for jobseeking. You'll get the lend of a suit of you need it.

You can have a few cans but drunken messing is never tolerated.

People staying there may be homeless but many would be working part time or on some course. And if you're working you hand up some portion of your wages or welfare.

Other hostels deal with addiction issues, this one is for working men who are not far off getting back on track

Chattastrophe!

mikemac1 wrote: »

That already exists, the Iveagh Hostel on Bride St.

Every man (I'm not sure if there are women) had his own room and access to facilities like the Internet and help for jobseeking. You'll get the lend of a suit of you need it.

People staying there may be homeless but many would be working or some course. And if you're working you hand up some portion of your wages or welfare.

Other hostels deal with addiction issues, this one is for working men who are not far off getting back on track

Thank you. That's exactly the sort of cause that I'd be willing to donate time or money to, and I'm definitely going to look into it further.

mikemac1

I don't think they need money, it's funded by a trust and the staff are paid for what they do.

I guess they could use your time more then your money.

If you're good at typing CV's, teaching basic computer skills or even just want to befriend people and chat they would loveto have you

Chattastrophe!

mikemac1 wrote: »

If you're good at typing CV's, teaching basic computer skills or even just want to befriend people and chat they would loveto have you

Actually, I'm the go-to person amongst my friends for CVs. It's something I have experience in, and really enjoy doing. And I have computer skills, and some teaching experience. So I may well get in touch with them.

I think kiva is a good one as well.
Other than that, animal or children charities are who I go for

Captain Havoc

I don't like "awareness" charities myself.

mattjack

Tlachtga wrote: »

Thank you. That's exactly the sort of cause that I'd be willing to donate time or money to, and I'm definitely going to look into it further.

Have a look at Activelink or Volunteer.ie , check out their Volunteer sections and see who is looking for volunteers.

Contact HR depts of charity's you are interested in to see if they any vacancies
and to see are your skills useful for them.

Nearly all charity's now expect you to do an interview, induction course , get garda vetting and commit for set amount of time , so many hours per week over a year.

Mr Benevolent

Crea wrote: »

A friend used to work for Bothar and advised me never to give them money. Not going into reasons here.

I'd go for Barnardos or a charity which helps the homeless.

Barnardo's has a very dodgy past. The founder took kids in off the street and sold them to Canadian farms.

Benny_Cake

Deleted User wrote: »

Perhaps turn your eye on kiva. Its not a charity so much as a place where you choose to invest money and have it paid back to you by people who benefited from it.

The good thing about this for someone who is part of a "group" like you is you get to meet... choose where to invest the money..... then you get the money back again.....

And then when you earn more next time you can do it all over again....

Kiva seem like a good organisation, but can I also recommend Zidisha? They describe themselves as a "peer-to-peer microfinance service", and are a little different to Kiva as you are essentially dealing with the borrower directly.

With regard to Irish charities, some good ones have already been mentioned. Pieta House, the Capuchin Day Centre, and Cork Penny Dinners are worthy organisations doing valuable work.

suicide_circus

Gotta love the the groups of second year volunteer soc college students fundraising for their trip to Tanzania to build an orphanage. Nevermind the fact they have absolutely no relevant skills or abilities. ****ing con artists.

Pumpkinseeds

I give to the smaller independent animal charities. Most get little to no government help and in most cases the money is spent taking care of the needs of the animals. I know of a certain homeless charity, which shall remain nameless, that spent a 5 figure sum fitting out a charity shop in a town full of charity shops. Surely that is money that would have been better spent on the needs of the homeless. Smaller independent charities need the money more.

Guy:Incognito

NuckingFacker wrote: »

That's the States responsibility and it is a disgrace and a farce that they need to fund-raise. If all charitable donations were cut off(and I've donated more than most btw before the whingers attack me) the state would be forced(well, should be forced) to meet its obligations instead of hiving it out as a charity case. A childrens hospital is the states business to fund properly. The fact they don't shows what a bunch of self-serving cnuts they are.

Or maybe they get quite a lot and its mismanaged resulting in a lot of wastage?

Madam_X

true wrote: »

most charities in Ireland pay their top staff much better than staff in siumilar size businesses are paid. Nothing "charity" about them. More of a scam.

Yeh the Irish Cancer Society, with all its research and support... is just a "scam". Seriously, I know it's fashionable to be all cynical about easy targets, but something like the Irish Cancer Society - I don't agree with the amount the CEO gets paid, I can't bear chuggers... but what about all the rest of the people who work tirelessly for an organisation like this? Allowing the bad to eclipse the good and therefore refusing to support them... is just pigheadedness.

Beware especially of those who do not help people in Ireland. Charity should start at home, in this day and age.

I'd still send a donation to a country that's had e.g. a massive natural disaster.

Mr Benevolent wrote: »

I've looked for mental health charities that actually help the people they claim to help. Eventually I discovered that the only charity that actually helps is the Simon Community, as most homeless people have mental health problems. The rest of the charities just line their pockets.

What about Aware? Pieta House? Blurting out a statement like that, when you consider the fantastic work those organisations have done, is pretty uncalled-for.

Catkins407 wrote: »

Ah I see a nice sexy charity. It's a good one no doubt but I am wondering why you asked when you had your mind already made up?

Define a "sexy charity"?

Shane-KornSpace

mattjack wrote: »

they might do a little more than just that

They do.
They also pay the ESB bills for junkies and alcoholics.

True story.

suicide_circus

I imagine a "sexy" charity is one with lots of meejah hype and celebrity support

joe swanson

Www.jackandjill.ie

Desperately in need of funds that the government wont provide.

mattjack

What about Aware? Pieta House? Blurting out a statement like that, when you consider the fantastic work those organisations have done, is pretty uncalled-for.

A lot of charitys who deal with homeless / disenfranchised people employ primary health care staff including counsellors who work with clients with mental health
issues or are able to assist/advocate through inter agency work.

mattjack

Shane-KornSpace wrote: »

They do.
They also pay the ESB bills for junkies and alcoholics.

True story.

Really ?

Zebra3

I won't give a penny to charities who pay employees six figure sums p.a.

And for all those out there "fundraising" so they can do charity work in the "developing world", if you can't afford to pay your own way, do charity work closer to home. Don't expect your family and friends to fund your experience.

mattjack

Zebra3 wrote: »

I won't give a penny to charities who pay employees six figure sums p.a.

And for all those out there "fundraising" so they can do charity work in the "developing world", if you can't afford to pay your own way, do charity work closer to home. Don't expect your family and friends to fund your experience.

I don't think there are many employees on six figure sums , I'd imagine maybe CEO's.
I suppose maybe if you look at the staff being employed particularly around the skills they have alongside their experience , then maybe the CEO would have to be well paid and what rates of pay or salaries do you pay people ?

Zebra3

mattjack wrote: »

I don't think there are many employees on six figure sums , I'd imagine maybe CEO's.
I suppose maybe if you look at the staff being employed particularly around the skills they have alongside their experience , then maybe the CEO would have to be well paid and what rates of pay or salaries do you pay people ?

A charity should not being paying anybody, even the CEO, a six figure sum.

Madam_X

Screw cancer patients and their families and cancer research. I'm not gonna give a cent on the basis of the CEO's salary in order to make a point that won't change anything... but it's a good way of justifying not supporting a cancer charity.

mattjack

Zebra3 wrote: »

A charity should not being paying anybody, even the CEO, a six figure sum.

OK, I appreciate that , what I'm trying to say is what should a charity pay its CEO , a lot of people when the word charity is mentioned go into hysterics thinking only of chuggers and the CEO often without acknowledging what's going on.

So if an agency employs a variety of skilled professionals from nurses,doctors,counsellors etc all with a very specialised skill set who command a high salary should their CEO not be able earn a high salary too.

mattjack

Madam_X wrote: »

Screw cancer patients and their families and cancer research. I'm not gonna give a cent on the basis of the CEO's salary in order to make a point that won't change anything... but it's a good way of justifying not supporting a cancer charity.

:pac: you calm down or your jocks will never dry.

Steve O

Madam_X wrote: »

Screw cancer patients and their families and cancer research. I'm not gonna give a cent on the basis of the CEO's salary in order to make a point that won't change anything... but it's a good way of justifying not supporting a cancer charity.

...

Jimoslimos

true wrote: »

Beware especially of those who do not help people in Ireland. Charity should start at home, in this day and age.

mikemac1 wrote: »

Why not Irish?

Try looking up "altruism"

mikemac1

Altruism or selflessness is the principle or practice of concern for the welfare of others.

Aye, and another poster in the thread mentioned Alone founded by a fireman who found elderly people dead or in grave circumstances in sub standard accomadation.

Altruism in Ireland so.

Can we look after our own first?

Jimoslimos

mikemac1 wrote: »

Aye, and another poster in the thread mentioned Alone founded by a fireman who found elderly people dead or in grave circumstances in sub standard accomadation.

Altruism in Ireland so.

Can we look after our own first?

Donating to 'local' causes will have more than likely have a direct or indirect benefit on the community you live in - therefore not truly altruistic since you also benefit in some way. That doesn't mean you shouldn't donate to these, it makes good sense to.

I just hate when people play foreign and local charities off each other. It's not a case of one or the other.

mikemac1

There's no conflict on this thread

Just the OP posted

errlloyd wrote: »

I probably won't go Irish,

Well it's fairly normal 2 or 3 posters will ask why but nobody ripped the OP over this, just interested to know why they want to go international instead of local.

hfallada

Saint vincent de Paul or the soup kitchen in Dublin 1/7. The soup kitchen feeds 100s of people each day and looking the people that use they need the meals. I have volunteered at it and it's incrediable how much food they make barely any staff.

Chinasea

ISPCA and many of the other animal welfare associations receive little, and many NO government funding whatsoever, and considering the hideous amount of abandoned, discarded, animals in the maxed out shelters, these 'charities' really need any help they manage to get.

Sadly, they seem to be totally overlooked and even somewhat scorned at by some, and suffer from the stigma/unfashionable charity label, where some people see it as cooky to bequeath or donate money to an animal charity.

Rosanna Davidson just went way up in my estimation when she recently participated in the mini marathon in aid of the ISPCA.

the groutch

Chinasea wrote: »

Rosanna Davidson just went way up in my estimation when she recently participated in the mini marathon in aid of the ISPCA.

you mean the one she pretended to complete?

Zebra3

mattjack wrote: »

So if an agency employs a variety of skilled professionals from nurses,doctors,counsellors etc all with a very specialised skill set who command a high salary should their CEO not be able earn a high salary too.

Why are you talking about an agency? The thread is about charities.

mattjack

Zebra3 wrote: »

Why are you talking about an agency? The thread is about charities.

Sorry charity , my mistake.

Zebra3

mattjack wrote: »

OK, I appreciate that , what I'm trying to say is what should a charity pay its CEO , a lot of people when the word charity is mentioned go into hysterics thinking only of chuggers and the CEO often without acknowledging what's going on.

So if an agency employs a variety of skilled professionals from nurses,doctors,counsellors etc all with a very specialised skill set who command a high salary should their CEO not be able earn a high salary too.

Put it another way, why should a CEO take a six figure sum when so many people give their time and money for free?

Catkins407

As a mother of a child who's a cancer survivor I think things like research are very important. Supporting research means there could be a breakthrough that you have helped fund that could help millions. That's some payback for your donation. Big organisations that have to cover a lot of people and remember there are many different types of cancer out there need someone who can run it like a business. Someone who can generate funding to continue and improve service provision and research. To attract someone to the job with those qualities qualifications and experience means you do gave to pay. I am wary of charities who spend too much on admin and salaries but in my experience they are not the big charities . They can be local or national and there is still the mentality of jobs for the boys and family members. I was a director of an international medical research foundation. Sounds a lot bigger than it actually was. We all worked hard to fund it and it was necessary to pay someone to run it. I resigned when the founder employed his daughter and her husband to run it. That's the type of thing I gave problems with.

lionela

How about the Laura/Lynn hospice for sick kids with cancers in Leopardstown Dublin

I have heard they get no funding from Government.

Or perhaps any hospice that supports cancer sufferers.

Chop Chop

Zebra3 wrote: »

Put it another way, why should a CEO take a six figure sum when so many people give their time and money for free?

Back in the day, when all the trocaire boxes were lined up in my primary school, back in 1986. We had "feed the world" etc...

That fúcking cúnt that ran trocaire, was taking 98 pence for every pound at the time for his salary, with full backing from bob geldof and bono.

It was a stunt, we all remember how naive the Irish public were, and these fúckers holmed in on the signal.

Maire2009

Jack and Jill Foundation

Cliona Ring Foundation

ISPCA

Local animal shelters run largely by volunteers.

Basically any charity that aids children or animals and you can be 99% sure the money is going where it should be.

mattjack

Zebra3 wrote: »

Put it another way, why should a CEO take a six figure sum when so many people give their time and money for free?

What do you mean by ' so many giving their time and money for free ' ?

Where I work there's a small reliable core of volunteers committed to two or three days a week , the agency/charity which employs me has a waiting list of eight months for volunteers who are driven by a variety of reasons.. a want for experience , hope of employment , to run parallel to their study even their ego. Very few give their time for free and that's not showing them disrespect,some are amazing capable individuals , a monetary gain is not always their agenda.

So if we have a CEO maintaining a charity that employs a large number of individuals with a huge variety of skills that in some cases literally keep people alive , at the very least he should be paid well or you risk losing him to another employer and you risk gaining a less capable individuals.

fits

Maire2009 wrote: »

Basically any charity that aids children or animals and you can be 99% sure the money is going where it should be.

That is not true. A lot of the animal charities are highly questionable.

In many counties the local SPCA is right beside the dog pound. Run by the same people.

Another animal charity I can think of employs chuggers.


Know who you're giving your money to, that is all I am saying. I have a lot of time for St Vincent de Paul.

oldyouth

I have monthly direct debits for Alone and Simon (South East)
I also give to people I know who are participating in events to raise funds for charities that mean something to them
I try to weed out the chuggers from genuine street fundraisers and give what I can

I never, ever give to SVP and that won't change

MurdyWurdy

The SPCA is our charity of choice. We donate regularly. I'd like to volunteer as well but I find any kind of cruelty or mistreatment of animals very upsetting and I'd be afraid it would affect me more than I could deal with.

We lived overseas and used to donate to the SPCA there too. In the supermarkets there they had donation boxes where you could put cat/dog food for the spca and I always bought extra cat food when doing my weekly shop. They had a box for a local charity that gave out food parcels too which I always put something in. Would love to see that in supermarkets here.

errlloyd

MurdyWurdy wrote: »

We lived overseas and used to donate to the SPCA there too. In the supermarkets there they had donation boxes where you could put cat/dog food for the spca and I always bought extra cat food when doing my weekly shop. They had a box for a local charity that gave out food parcels too which I always put something in. Would love to see that in supermarkets here.

You might be interested in this relatively new idea in Ireland of suspended coffee. Effectively in participating cafe's you buy two coffees, one for yourself and one you leave suspended. A homeless person can come in and ask if there are any suspended coffees, and they can drink that. It's an Italian concept, I don't know if it will work, but it has arrived.

http://www.thejournal.ie/suspended-coffee-ireland-875261-Apr2013/

Chop Chop

Charity is all about making money for vested interests in this country, it's not about helping people.

Charity organisations in Ireland have a "Bertie" type figure running them that's not short of a few bob.

Maire2009

fits wrote: »

That is not true. A lot of the animal charities are highly questionable.

In many counties the local SPCA is right beside the dog pound. Run by the same people.

Another animal charity I can think of employs chuggers.


Know who you're giving your money to, that is all I am saying. I have a lot of time for St Vincent de Paul.

The grammar in my post was terrible. I really should have started a new sentence. What I meant was the local animal shelters where you may know the people running them and know they are doing it cos they love animals and often it is people doing it in their spare time.

I do accept there are a lot of bad apples out there.

MurdyWurdy

errlloyd wrote: »

You might be interested in this relatively new idea in Ireland of suspended coffee. Effectively in participating cafe's you buy two coffees, one for yourself and one you leave suspended. A homeless person can come in and ask if there are any suspended coffees, and they can drink that. It's an Italian concept, I don't know if it will work, but it has arrived.

http://www.thejournal.ie/suspended-coffee-ireland-875261-Apr2013/

What a wonderful idea!

Death and Taxes

Chop Chop wrote: »

Back in the day, when all the trocaire boxes were lined up in my primary school, back in 1986. We had "feed the world" etc...

That fúcking cúnt that ran trocaire, was taking 98 pence for every pound at the time for his salary, with full backing from bob geldof and bono.

It was a stunt, we all remember how naive the Irish public were, and these fúckers holmed in on the signal.

Utteer and undiluted rubbish.